When residents go to a movie theater to watch newly released “Alabama Moon,” they might not know that one of the main characters in the movie lived in Magnolia Springs for the first seven years of his life.

Uriah Shelton plays the character of Kip in the movie, which began showing in select cities on April 1, and the 14-year-old child actor said it is his dream to be a movie star and live in California.

“I am so thankful and so blessed to be doing what I’m doing,” Shelton said. “I love what I do. It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Shelton was born in Dallas, but lived in Magnolia Springs and attended Bayside Academy in Daphne before signing on with a movie agency in California and moving to the state.

Shelton moved out of the state of Alabama and Baldwin County; but that does not mean the connection he has to his home state and town is lost, both in his career and family.

“My uncle and cousins and grandfather live in Magnolia Springs or around the area,” he said. “It’s also really funny because I always select movies that are about Alabama or take place in Alabama, so it’s pretty cool.”

“Alabama Moon” is the home-schooled child actor’s first movie to hit theaters, and it is being shown in theaters across the county. The film, which includes well-known actor John Goodman, is the story of an orphan named Moon Blake who, with the help of his friends, follows his father’s orders after he dies and attempt to travel to Alaska. The movie’s plot is based off the book which was written by a Baldwin County native, Watt Key.

He also has appeared in a few television shows, including: “Monk;” and “Without a Trace.” He is also a character in a television series shown on A&E, titled “The Glade.” He said he’s been in Miami. filming the second season of the show.

Uriah was able to speak with The Foley Onlooker about some of his likes and dislikes about being an actor, what it was like to jump from the small town of Magnolia Springs to the movie-star state of California, how he became an actor and a few unknown details about the filming process.

Q: “Alabama Moon” recently hit theaters, where you play one of the lead roles in the film. Where was the movie filmed and did you enjoy shooting it?

A: The movie was really fun. We actually filmed it in Covington, La. We didn’t actually film it in Alabama. The setting of the film does take place in Alabama. It was really great, and I had a great time filming it.

Q: What is your favorite scene from the movie?

A: I think it was the water scene. I think we had the most fun doing that scene. We were running away from the bloodhounds. We got to splash in the water and we had an insane water fight and we had a lot of fun. The setting is a small river or stream, and we hear bloodhounds and we’re just running away from them. The real fun happens in-between the shots when we’re just goofing around.

Q: Many people might not know that you just finished filming for another movie, “Lifted.” You play the main character, a child-singing prodigy, in the movie. Can you tell us more about what that movie is about?

A: It’s about a young boy and his family and his dad in the Marine Reserve and he gets called into act of duty. It’s how a boy struggles through the loss of a father or father figure when he is away, and he basically sings his way through his father’s absence. I don’t know if the movie will be released to theaters. I heard it may be released sometime this summer.

Q: Did you enjoy filming for that movie?

A: That has to be one of my favorite sets I’ve ever been on. It was filmed in Birmingham. It was fun to be back in my natural film setting in Alabama. I also got to film with Trace Adkins.

Q: Why did you want to become an actor? Did you do any theater acting or childhood plays when you were younger?

A: I’ve never really done any acting as a kid except for church and school plays. Even then, it was minor roles. A traveling agency that helps get young actors on their feet came through Mobile, and my cousin wanted to get into modeling. My mother tempted me with a skateboard so I tried it out because I really wanted the skateboard, but I really liked it. I went to an acting competition in Orlando and a couple agencies wanted me and I picked one in California and it’s taken off ever since.

Q: You’ve acted in both movies or television shows. Which do you prefer?

A: It’s sort of like comparing apples and oranges. I like them for what they are. When you have a television show, there’s more time to build relationships and get the actors. With movies, there’s not as much time with the actors and you have to pack as much fun in the amount of time. I really love both.

Q: What’s a part of the movie filming or television filming process that the general public would not know about?

A: As a child actor, I can only work nine and a half hours. I also have to do school three hours a day on set under California law. Actually, it’s insane how much goes on behind the camera. You can have two or three people in the scene and 70-100 people behind the camera working on stuff necessary to the shoot.

A: Do a lot of people Magnolia Springs know that you are an actor and came from the town?

Q: I mainly knew people in Foley and at Bayside. Some of my neighbors do know who I am, but Magnolia Springs is a very tiny, tiny, tiny little town.